Neuman wants to ban lottery political cash

State Rep. Brandon Neuman

State Rep. Brandon Neuman plans to introduce legislation to ban any company running the Pennsylvania Lottery from making campaign contributions to elected officials and political candidates in Pennsylvania.

Neuman was responding to Gov. Tom Corbett’s recent decision to award a 20-year contract to British-based Camelot Global Services to outsource the management of the Pennsylvania Lottery.

“The state has prohibited the casino industry from making campaign contributions, but there’s nothing in the contract signed by the governor that stops Camelot or its executives from making donations to political candidates,” Neuman said Jan. 17 in a news release. “We don’t allow the gaming industry to influence elections for good reason and the same standard should apply to the lottery.”

Neuman said he would prefer that the state continue managing the lottery, but said if the deal with Camelot is completed, then the same prohibitions on campaign contributions that apply to the casinos industry should apply to the lottery.

Camelot stands to make $1.7 billion over the life of the contract that was negotiated before a legislative hearing could be held.

“Camelot intends to expand gaming, which I believe will require legislative approval. My bill would ensure those decisions remain focused on the best interests of seniors and the state programs that serve them and the process is free from the influence of campaign contributions,” said Neuman, D-North Strabane Township.